Monthly Grocery Audit – our family budget for a real food diet

on Apr 02, 2019, Updated Aug 04, 2022

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

It’s time for another monthly grocery audit. Last month’s post was hugely popular so I hope you enjoy this month’s post as well. If you’re curious about how a family budget for real food can look, here’s what I bought to feed our family of six in March.

March Grocery Audit – Family Budget for a Real Food Diet

Every time I write these posts, I want to start out saying something like, “this month was a little odd.” It seems all our months are odd. March was strange because I was gone at the beginning for almost a week. I was back out at Expo West learning about new organic food products coming to the market. I wasn’t feeling well for most of the trip so it was a hard time.

I was struck by just how much of the “food” they were debuting just doesn’t seem to be real food to me. So many kinds of processed snacks, meats, and convenience items. I understand there is a time and place for them, but overall, I was not that impressed. The trip ended with dinner at Dr. Sears’ house, talking with him, and meeting Martha Sears (his wife). That was ah-mazing!

March also meant spring break for us. We drove to Florida again to visit with dear friends who were kind enough to take us in and feed us quite a few meals. I’m so thankful for lovely friends. Wish more of them lived closer to us. <3

Anyway, just to recap. I have a family of 6 and my kids are almost 15, 13, 11, and almost 9. I grow a large garden and buy in bulk. I buy most of our meat from local farmers, but I also raise our own meat birds. I have a well stocked pantry and freezer so I don’t account for every single thing I feed my family on this post, but I do include all the food I buy.

3/02 Costco – 101.59

bagels – 5.99
organic pumpkin flax granola x 2 – 9.98
organic frozen blueberries – 8.49
organic tortilla chips – 4.59
organic strawberries – 9.59
organic blueberries – 5.99
Alaska sockeye salmon – 32.99
organic carrots – 5.99
organic half & half – 5.99
uncured bacon – 11.99

3/13 Walmart – $14.77 (had to get spring break supplies, so grabbed a couple items)

Boneless skinless chicken breast – 8.79
Whole Wheat White Flour – 5.98

3/17 Walmart – $24.39 spring break ice cream sundaes

sugar cones – 2.33
hot fudge – 1.98
bananas – 2.04
ice cream 6.88 x 2 = 13.76
dairy-free ice cream – 4.38

3/25 Trader Joe’s – $90.56

hashbrowns – 1.99
organic apple sauce pouches – 2.79 x 2 = 5.58
organic blueberries – 3.99
olive tapenade – 1.99
organic strawberries – 7.99
sweet potato fries – 1.99
smoked gouda cheese – 3.24
comte cheese – 6.70
double cream brie – 3.23
pork gyoza – 2.99 x 2 = 5.98
shelf stable whipping cream – 1.39
organic baguette – 1.99
organic boneless skinless chicken thighs – 7.34
asparagus – 2.49
tri pack colored peppers – 3.99
4 lbs organic potatoes – 4.49
organic yogurt plain – 3.49
salsa verde – 1.99
organic sweet potatoes – 4.49
organic broccoli – 2.99 x 2 = 5.98
2 lbs organic red onion – 3.29
sugar snap peas – 2.99
3 oz garlic – 1.49
sliced mushrooms – 1.99

3/25 Costco – 257.89

bagels – 5.99
Mini kind granola bars – 17.99
organic chips – 4.59
organic spinach – 4.99
organic triscuits – 9.59
mini babybel – 10.99
organic frozen mango – 8.89
organic cheese sticks – 6.99
mini peppers – 5.99
case of organic tomato sauce – 7.79
organic romaine lettuce – 4.99
organic frozen blueberries – 8.49
organic half & half – 5.99
cream cheese – 6.89
uncured Canadian bacon – 9.59
avocados – 5.49
organic flour – 6.49
garlic kielbasa – 13.61
sliced havarti – 7.79
organic unsalted butter – 9.98 x 2 = 19.98
Alaska sockeye salmon – 32.99
bananas – 1.49
organic ground beef – 19.99
sharp cheddar – 10.79
bananas – 1.49
kiwis – 6.99
grape tomatoes – 5.99

Yearly pork purchase, – $419.12

Reasons Locker – $142.64
Holevoet Farm – $276.48

Notes on the bulk pork purchase: I am now stocked on pork for the year. I bought a 1/2 a hog in March – I think it equals about 75 pounds of meat and it cost right around $420 for hams, bacon, sausage, ribs, roasts, and pork chops. $420 sounds like a lot of money – I figure it’s an average of about $5.65 per pound for humanely raised, pastured pork about 30 miles from me. The Red Wattle Heritage Pig Breed results in some of the best pork I’ve had. I’m willing to pay a higher cost for higher quality meat. Last time I bought bulk pork was also last March.

In total, we spent $908.32 in March to feed our family of 6 a mostly real food diet.

We do eat out and I don’t track that on this family budget for groceries. Because we were traveling for Spring Break in March, we ate out a lot more than we normally do.